News

Concept plan for Yarra Flats Park released

Friday 16 August, 2013

Following extensive consultation with the local community and key interest groups last year, Parks Victoria has released a revised and final concept plan for improvements to Yarra Flats Park in Eaglemont.

The concept plan has been developed after Parks Victoria received a number of interesting proposals for new activities in the park which provided the opportunity to review what the park offers visitors, and how it can meet their needs into the future.

Parks Victoria’s District Manager Northern Melbourne Philip Ross says the concept plan takes into account feedback received during the community consultation, and includes:

· a new stormwater wetland to be developed by Melbourne Water adjacent to Banksia Street

· a tree-based eco adventure course in the tree canopy in the northern section of the park near the Yarra River.

Mr Ross says the concept plan also supports a proposed Impressionist Lab (gallery and education centre) by Banyule City Council.

Mr Ross says all three proposals are consistent with Parks Victoria’s Healthy Parks Healthy People approach, which aims to encourage more people to enjoy parks more often.

“The tree-based eco adventure course in the tree canopy will revitalise an underutilised aspect of the park,” said Mr Ross. “We’re very supportive of the wetland proposal and will be talking to Melbourne Water to determine a timeframe for the implementation of this proposal.”

Over 100 people attended a community information day in the park last year and around 200 people completed a survey, commenting on various aspects of the plan.

“While there were are a range of views expressed on each of the elements, there was sufficient support for the wetland and tree course to proceed, and for the Impressionist Lab to move to the next stage of detailed planning and further community consultation.”

Mr Ross said changes that have been incorporated as a result of feedback received during consultation, include:

· the new stormwater wetland will be designed in a way to rejuvenate the remnant billabong in the northern section of the park.

· reconfiguring the car park and increasing landscaping to provide further screening from the residential area adjacent to the park.

· extensive weed control and revegetation, focused along the river, which will help to strengthen the park’s role in the habitat corridor.